Chewbacca the therapy dog, known to many simply as Chewy, has been a pillar of comfort and joy in the community for years.
Chewy is well known for helping children at Bearspaw School and Fireside School feel safe and supported. His gentle nature and ability to bring calm to any room made him a favourite among students and teachers alike.
“When you meet Chewy, the first thing he wants to do is come up to you,” says Michelle Spice, Chewy’s owner. “If he likes how you’re petting him or how you smell, which is everyone, he’ll lean into you. That’s his way of saying, ‘Don’t stop.’”
His impact in schools began at Bearspaw School, where Spice’s husband, Shaun Perratt, a local teacher, taught Grade One. Chewy initially visited the classroom occasionally, and Perratt quickly noticed the positive effect he had on students.
“The students became calmer,” says Spice. “They knew they had a responsibility to create a safe space for him. It changed everything.”
Recognizing Chewy’s potential as a full-time support animal, Spice and Perratt, pursued his registration as a therapy dog with the Community Therapy Dogs Association. Once certified, Chewy became a regular presence at Bearspaw School, offering companionship to children who needed extra comfort.
“He became a fixture in the classroom,” says Spice. “Kids would walk him down the hallways, read to him and even cry into his fur when they needed support.”
When Perratt later moved to Fireside School, Chewy continued his work there, providing the same calming presence to a new group of students.
One particularly touching memory involves a young girl battling cancer. “After school, she lay on top of Chewy, both of them asleep and snoring,” says Spice. “That just speaks to his nature.”
Now retired, Chewy spends his days at home with Spice while she works. His younger dog brother, Han Solo, has taken over therapy duties at the school.
RELATED STORIES:
Sadly, the beloved therapy dog was diagnosed with inoperable osteosarcoma, a terminal cancer, and is now in palliative care at home.
Spice has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love from the community. Parents and students have shared countless memories, including a family who still keeps a photo of Chewy on their fridge years after meeting him.
“This is beyond just my family,” says Spice. “Chewy has helped raise hundreds of children. He’s been a community dog, and he always will be.”
Though Chewy only has a few days left, Spice finds comfort in knowing his spirit will live on. “His love and calmness will always be with us.”
